Investment objective & strategy
As of Jan. 21, 2026 · prospectusObjective. The fund seeks maximum long-term capital appreciation.
Strategy. The fund seeks to achieve its objective by normally investing at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings made for investment purposes) in companies with smaller market capitalizations. The fund currently defines companies with smaller market capitalizations as those with market capitalizations comparable to companies included in the MSCI All Country World ex USA Small-Cap Index. Under normal circumstances, the fund expects to maintain a weighted-average market capitalization between 50% and 200% of the weighted-average market capitalization of the securities in the MSCI All Country World ex USA Small-Cap Index, which as of September 30, 2025 would permit the fund to maintain a weighted-average market capitalization ranging from $1.3 billion to $5.2 billion. The fund normally invests principally in … The fund seeks to achieve its objective by normally investing at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings made for investment purposes) in companies with smaller market capitalizations. The fund currently defines companies with smaller market capitalizations as those with market capitalizations comparable to companies included in the MSCI All Country World ex USA Small-Cap Index. Under normal circumstances, the fund expects to maintain a weighted-average market capitalization between 50% and 200% of the weighted-average market capitalization of the securities in the MSCI All Country World ex USA Small-Cap Index, which as of September 30, 2025 would permit the fund to maintain a weighted-average market capitalization ranging from $1.3 billion to $5.2 billion. The fund normally invests principally in securities of issuers located outside the United States and allocates its investments among at least eight different countries. The fund may invest in emerging market securities. Members of the portfolio management team believe that behavioral biases of investors contribute to market inefficiencies. Their quantitative investment process begins with a proprietary investment-return forecasting model which combines behavioral factors (which seek to capitalize on human behavioral biases (i.e., systematic tendencies) from financial analysts, company management and investors), with intrinsic and valuation factors (which are expected to provide tangible measures of a companys true worth). The portfolio managers integrate this multi-factor approach with a proprietary risk model to form the basis of portfolio construction, with constraints at the individual security, country and industry levels to manage exposures relative to the benchmark. Additionally, all investment recommendations are thoroughly vetted on an individual company level to confirm the investment rationale and suitability before a purchase or sale. In addition to common stocks and other equity securities (such as preferred stocks, convertible securities and warrants), the fund may invest in securities issued in initial public offerings (IPOs), real estate investment trusts (REITs) and may utilize foreign currency exchange contracts, options, stock index futures contracts and other derivative instruments. The fund typically does not engage in active hedging of currency but retains flexibility to do so depending on market performance. Although the fund did not invest significantly in derivative instruments as of the most recent fiscal year end, it may do so at any time.
Top holdings
As of March 31, 2026 · N-PORT| Security | Ticker | Value | % of fund |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAPAN PETROLEUM | — | $1.42M | 2.39% |
| SITC | — | $1.37M | 2.30% |
| DRAX GROUP PLC | — | $1.34M | 2.25% |
| IDEMITSU KOSAN C | — | $1.23M | 2.07% |
| ZHEJIANG NHU-A | — | $1.21M | 2.04% |
| NATIONAL ALUMIN | — | $1.19M | 1.99% |
| LION FINANCE GRO | — | $1.07M | 1.80% |
| BANCA MEDIOLANUM | — | $1.01M | 1.70% |
| TOYO TIRE CORP | — | $971.27K | 1.63% |
| A2A SPA | — | $930.40K | 1.56% |
Portfolio moves
Dec 31, 2025 → Mar 31, 2026How many positions this fund opened, exited, grew, trimmed, or left unchanged between its two most recent N-PORT snapshots — net changes between point-in-time reports, not a trade log.
Similar funds
Funds whose portfolios most overlap this one, by weight| Fund | Overlap | Net exp. |
|---|---|---|
| CAUSEWAY INTERNATIONAL SMALL CAP FUND · CIISX, CVISX | 11% | 1.10% |
| JNL Multi-Manager International Small Cap Fund | 11% | 0.92% |
| Avantis International Small Cap Value Fund · AVDVX, AVANX | 8% | 0.00% |
Advisers
| Firm | Role |
|---|---|
| Virtus Investment Advisers, LLC | Adviser |
| Virtus Systematic, a division of Virtus Advisers, LLC | Sub-adviser |
Footnotes
- Expense ratio as of January 24, 2025, from the fund's prospectus.
- Net assets and holdings count as of March 31, 2026, from the fund's N-PORT filing.
- Total return for calendar year 2025, before tax and after fund expenses. Computed by compounding the twelve monthly total returns the fund reported in its SEC N-PORT filings for 2025 (the latest prospectus does not yet chart this year).
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